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Industry Leader Expands National Network of Therapeutic Programs

(CERRITOS, CA – December 2, 2005) — Aspen Education Group, the nation’s private-sector leader in providing therapeutic education to underachieving or struggling young people, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of SageWalk. Located in Redmond, OR. SageWalk is a therapeutic wilderness program that serves as a high-impact intervention for troubled teens between the ages of 13 and 17 who may be experiencing emotional, academic or behavioral problems. Utilizing a nature-based setting, SageWalk teaches struggling adolescents ways to improve their communications skills and interpersonal relationships and teaches students to accept responsibility for their actions.

“We are delighted to welcome SageWalk and its team to the Aspen family,” said Aspen Education Group CEO Elliot Sainer. “SageWalk is a very successful outdoor program that shares with Aspen our commitment to providing high-quality, comprehensive solutions for underachieving young people. The addition of the SageWalk program to our existing network of outdoor programs complements Aspen’s three residential facilities in Oregon and allows us to better provide a full range of services to families throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.” “We have long respected what Aspen’s team has done in developing and managing their network of outstanding therapeutic programs. It is an exciting opportunity for SageWalk to become an integral part of the industry’s leading organization,” said Larry Solie, CEO of SageWalk. “With Aspen’s many resources now available to SageWalk, we look forward to expanding our services to families in need.”

“We are extremely pleased that Larry Solie has agreed to continue in his current leadership role at SageWalk,” Sainer added. “His dedication to achieving the highest standards of quality has earned the program a reputation for excellence among parents, professionals and industry leaders.”

The SageWalk program, established in 1997, has received national attention and recognition for its successful outcomes with young people and their families. SageWalk is licensed by the state of Oregon, accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), and is a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). In 2003, 2004 and 2005, the program was the recipient of the Woodbury Reports’ “Excellence in Education Award.” For more information, visit www.sagewalk.com.

With 32 programs in 11 states, Aspen Education Group is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive network of therapeutic schools and programs. Aspen Education Group offers professionals and families the opportunity to choose from a variety of therapeutic settings in order to best meet a student’s unique academic and emotional needs. An industry innovator, Aspen was voted among the top education companies by Eduventures, the leading independent education industry research firm.

Aspen has been profiled by major news and television organizations around the world, including: CNN; the New York Times; the Los Angeles Times; U.S. News & World Report; USA Today; National Public Radio; “Dateline NBC;” ABC’s “Good Morning America;” the syndicated TV program “Dr. Phil;” and in several documentaries, newspapers and TV talk shows in the United Kingdom. For over two decades Aspen Education Group has been achieving successful outcomes for families. No other organization in the therapeutic education industry offers a more enlightened approach or a more reputable network of quality programs. For more information about Aspen, please visit www.aspeneducation.com or call 888-972-7736.